Kites



Jan. 18, 1966 e MULARKEY 3,229,938

KITES Filed Oct. 6, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. HE/VAV /1//V6 NULARKEY K A TTORNE Y5" Jan. 18, MULARKEY KITES Filed Oct. 6, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 F76. /5 M so 94 82 86 H0 H 4 lo? [02 .4 f 4.

INVENTOR. HENRY ff/A G MUM/ 9KB BY I United States Patent 3,229,938 KITES Henry King Mularkey, 4219 Knowles Ave., Kensington, Md. Filed Oct. 6, 1964, Ser. No. 405,005 9 Claims. (Cl. 244-153) The present application constitutes a continuation-inpart of my copending application Serial No. 295,274, filed July 2, 1963, now forfeited, which is a continuationin-part of application Serial No, 171,434, filed February 6, 1962, now abandoned.

The present invention relates generally to toys and more particularly and specifically to a unique kite.

Conventional toy kites have, heretofore, been made of paper which has been hemmed for the reception of strengthening struts or cords to shape the kite and permit it to retain its proper configuration for resisting air currents in flight.

It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a novel and unique kite formed from shaped and molded paper or paperboard material which eliminates all requirements for struts, framing and the like.

Another object of the present invention resides in the provision of a novel and improved kite made from a fiat, substantially square sheet of stifi paperboard and a sub stantially T-shaped, preformed paperboard frame which is superimposed upon and secured to the generally square member to produce therein an airfoil configuration forming a unitary kite composed entirely of the two stiffened paperboard components.

Still another object of the present invention lies in the provision of a novel and unique airplane form kite which is composed of two stiifened paperboard components secured together to form a unitary kite element of airplane configuration composed solely and entirely of the two paperboard components.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a novel and unique one-piece kite formed from a shaped and molded paper or paperboard materials.

Another object of this invention resides in the provision of a novel and improved kite made from a single piece of stiffened paper or paperboard material in an airfoil configuration which provides for substantially increased flight characteristics over the configurations common to conventional reinforced or strutted kites made in accordance with present-day practices.

Still another object of this invention lies in the provision of a unique and improved kite which is preshaped from a single sheet of stiffened paper or paperboard in airfoil configuration which has suflicient inherent flexibility to afford proper flutter or give under conditions of varying wind velocities.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of a simple and inexpensive one-piece kite which is capable of manufacture by established modern techniques at a minimal cost to the consumer.

Still further objects and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent to one skilled in the art when the following general description and statement are read in the light of the accompanying drawings.

The nature of the present invention may be stated in general terms as relating to a toy kite consisting of a sheet of lightweight, stitfened fibrous material pressformed to an airfoil shape including swept-back areas on both sides of a diagonal vale therethrough, and an arcuate vale extending generally perpendicularly in respect to the first-named diagonal vale.

The present invention may be stated in additional general terms as relating to a toy kite as above described including a stiffened frame formed by a second fiberboard four corner areas.

3,229,938 Patented Jan. 18, 1966 ice or paperboard component superimposed upon and secured on the kite body to retain the same in a preshaped airfoil configuration, or the addition to the body, as hereiubefore described, of a preshaped tail component having horizontal stabilizing fins and an airfoil configuration which, when secured to the kite body, produces a kite form of the airplane type.

Referring now to the attached drawings in which like numerals designate similar parts throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 is a pictorial side view of the kite;

FIG, 2 is a front view of the kite;

FIG. 3 is a back view of the kite;

FIG. 4 is an end view;

FIG. 5 is a true side elevation;

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal section taken on line 66, FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a transverse section taken on line 77, FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the body section of a modified form of the kite;

FIG. 9 is a plan View of the strengthening and shaping frame of the modified embodiment of the kite;

FIG. 10 is a composite or assembly view of the modified embodiments incorporating the body of FIG. 8 and the frame of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is an exploded view illustrating a still further modified embodiment of the airplane form of the kite;

FIG. 12 is a side elevational view of a further modified embodiment of the improved kite;

FIG, 13 is a top plan view of the kite of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a vertical section taken on line 1414, FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a front elevational view of the kite of FIG. 12;

FIG. 16 is a transverse vertical section taken on line 1616, FIG. 13.

The basic concepts of the present invention lie in the provision of a unique kite formed from flat sheets of paper or stiffened fibrous material. The peripheral configuration of the sheet forming the kite body can vary within limitations from round to rectilinear without departing from the scope of the present concepts. In the drawings the kite body illustrated is shown in a substantially square configuration for the purposes of illustration without intent to restrict or limit the invention.

In the primary embodiment, the kite 10 constituting the present invention is formed from a single piece of flexible fibrous material 12, such as paper or paperboard, which is shaped in peripheral outline to provide two pairs of substantially identical side edges extending between The sheet is lightly scored, as at 14, diagonally in one direction between two corner areas dividing the kite generally into two side by side equal wing sections 16 and 18, and the kite is further lightly scored, as at 20, along an arcuate line extending between the remaining corner areas of the sheet located perpendicularly to the first diagonal scoring. The arcuate scoring 20 generally divides the kite into a nose portion 22 and a tail portion 24, each formed by those portions of the two wing sections on either side of the arcuate line 20. l l It I} Exertion of light pressure rearwardly on either wing section will cause the wing areas to sweep back from the diagonal scoring 14 defining such sections and dispose the wing sections at similar converging inclinations to the horizontal plane of the fold line 14. Light pressure exerted upon the nose section against the arcuate scoring 20 and in the direction of the tail section will cause an arcuate, depressed channel 21 to form following the line of arcuate scoring offsetting the planes of the nose section and the tail section on either side thereof, all of which establishes an airfoil shape for the entire surface of the sheet. The depth of the channel 21 diminishes toward each side edge of the kite.

A string or cord 26 tied between points on the firstnamed diagonal 14, one tie point intermediate the diagonal length in the nose portion of the kite and another toward the rearward end of the tail portion of the kite, will form a bellyband to which a kite string may be attached intermediate the bands length. A second cord 28 tied on the first-named diagonal adjacent the rearward end of the tail section of the kite will serve to secure a tail on the kite which may be made from fabric or paperboard material, crepe paper streamers having been found most effective.

It has been discovered that the arcuate scoring line should be so creased as to permit a rolling of the sheet material therealong in a rearward direction and in such a manner as to produce a stepped or offset condition between the plane of the tail section and the plane of the nose section defined thereby. This rolled configuration is important to the aerodynamic character of the kite and operates cooperatively with the longitudinal wing defining crease 14 to produce an effective flight configuration.

It has also been discovered that by using a paperboard material having normal resilience resulting from a certain amount of inherent rigidity the kite may be flattened after which it will spring back into its multiplane, creased .configuration assuming an effective aerodynamic contour which will be retained in flight.

In FIGS. 8-10, inclusive, there is shown a modified form of the kite constituting the present invention in which, as before, all struts and framing are eliminated, but which is formed from two stiffened paperboard components rather than being formed as a one-piece unit. In this form of the invention, the kite body is formed from a fiat sheet 30 of stiffened paperboard material of a peripheral configuration substantially identical to sheets 12 from which the body of the principal embodiment of the kite was formed. Associated with the sheet 30 is a substantially T-shaped frame element 32 (FIG. 9) formed of stiff paperboard material like that from which the kite body 30 is formed. The frame element 32 consists of an elongated narrow standard .or stem portion 34 which originates in a pointed end 36 at one end thereof and which integrally joins a transversely extending head portion 38 at the other end. The head portion 38 is generally arcuate in configuration, the concave side thereof disposed toward the stem portion and centrally joined therewith. The head portion 38 is provided with an arcuate slit 40 through a central portion thereof longitudinally thereof, and a pair of straightslits 42 extending inwardly and downwardly from the top edge of the head at equally spaced distances on either side of the projected centerline of the stem portion 34.

The assembled kite of the modified embodiment (FIG. 10) is formed by laying the frame element 32 upon one face of the kite body 30 with the pointed end 36 of the stem portion thereof coinciding with one corner of the generally square body and with the arcuate T-head thereof extending transversely between opposed corners of the body portion. When the frame is secured by adhesive, mastic or the like to the body portion, as illustrated and explained, the composite assembly is creased longitudinally of the centerline of the stem portion for the length of the kite body and is creased arcuately along the line of the arcuate slit 40 in the frame head portion so that the composite kite element assumes the general airfoil configuration shown in more specific detail in the principal embodiment of the invention, FIGS. 1 through 7.

In this modified form of the invention it is also contemplated that a bellyband tie may be used comparable to tie 26 in the principal embodiment and that a tail tie element comparable to 28 in the principal embodiment may also be incorporated.

In the modified embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 11, a kite body portion 50, substantially identical in peripheral configuration to element 30 of the previous embodiment is formed of a stiff paperboard material. The body is provided with a creased fold line 52 longitudinally thereof between two of the corner portions of the square body, and with an arcuate slit 54, substantially identical to slit 40 in the frame 32 of the previous embodiment, the slit 54 extending transversely of the longitudinal fold line 52 terminating inwardly from the opposed corner portions of the square body 50. Additionally, the body is provided with two short straight slits 56 which extend from the leading edge of the body inwardly and rearwardly at slight angles to the longitudinal fold line 52 positioning these slits in substantially identical positions to the slits 42 in the frame of the previous embodiment.

Associated with the body element50 is a tail element 58 which is generally of an equilateral triangular configuration and which is provided with a preformed crease or fold line 69 following the normal elevation line of the triangular body from the apex of the leading angle through the base or rear line thereof which is notched as at 62 Rear side fin elements 64 are formed in the tail section by cuts opening inwardly of the side,

on the crease line.

secured one to the other to form a unitary kite element with the body portion and the extending tail portion.

In the last-described modified embodiment the body portion and tail portion are creased longitudinally on the extended fold lines 52 and 60, the body portion is creased or rolled on the arcuate slit 54 to produce in the body portion an airfoil configuration substantially identical to that of the body portions of the two previously described embodiments, and the tail fins '64 are turned downwardly and outwardly to lie substantially in a horizontal plane with the body portion while the preceding tail sections 66 on either side of the fold line 60 assume an angle approaching the vertical from the horizontal plane of the body and the rear tail fins.

The leading tail portions 66 are more pronouncedly defined by side fol-d lines 70 which substantially parallel the center fold lines 60 of the tail section and extend from the leading edge to the inner end of the transverse cuts defining the tail fin portions.

It is further contemplated that a still further embodi ment of the invention could be produced by utilization of a frame element corresponding to frame 32, FIG. 9, which would have an extended tail portion formed thereon and integrally therewith substantially identical to the entirety of the tail section 58, FIG. 11. In such a modification the body would substantially duplicate body element 30, FIG. 8, and the frame and tail section as a single unit would be superimposed thereon and secured thereto as hereinbefore described to provide a kite similar to that shown in FIG. 10 with the additional provision of an extended integrally formed tail section corresponding to section 58, FIG. 11.

With reference to FIGS. 1216, inclusive, there is shown a further modified embodiment of a kite falling within the inventive concepts herein described and here-,

inafter claimed. The kite, generally designated constituting the embodiments shown in FIGS. 12-16, coni sists of an essentially square body portion 82 formed of a sheet of semi-rigid paper, or like fibrous material, which is provided with a substantially radially projecting triangular area 84 at one point on the periphery thereof which is the nose end of the kite. Diametrically opposite the triangular nose portion 84 the body element is provided with an integrally formed radially projecting tail section 86 which may be eliminated in manufacture by terminating the kite in a slight triangular projection 88 shown within the dotted area in FIG. 13, under which circumstances the kite would be flown with the attachment of a conventional type of tail to the triangular projection 88.

Immediately rearwardly from the triangular nose portion 84 within the body section 82 the fibrous or paper sheet forming the body of the kite is scored through a substantially semicircular region on two arcuate lines 90 and 92 spaced apart front to rear of the kite body. Score line 90 consists of a series of interconnected oppositely disposed arcs 94 defining along the length thereof a series of substantially equal waves or undulations extending in uniform patterns to each side of a front to rear centerline of the kite body. Line 92, spaced rearwardly from line 90, is similar in its undulating definition to that configuration of line 90, the undulations or arcs 96 of line 92 lying substantially concentric with those arcs 94 of line 90 with the exception of the central are on the front to rear centerline which is a straight line 98 in line 92 as opposed to the forwardly extending arc or curvilinear portion of line 90 on the same centerline.

The entirety of the kite member including the body portion, nose projection and tail are creased as at 100 longitudinally from the forward tip of the triangular body portion 84 through the extreme rear projection of the tail along the front to rear centerline of the kite. Originating at a region substantially centrally of the body portion 82 on the centerline 100 are a series of score lines 102 which radiate forwardly therefrom in equally spaced relationship to terminate at their intersections with generally arcuate line 92 hereinbefore described. The forward portion 104 of the body of the kite between forwardly disposed curvilinear line 90 and the front edge of the kite is also scored or creased on two diverging lines 106 each of which originates on the front to rear centerline at its intersection with line 90 and each of which extends to the front or leading edge of the kite body terminating at the points of joindure of the triangular nose portion 84 with the peripheral leading edge of the kite body. A bellyband cord 108 is then secured under tension between two points on the kite along the centerline thereof, one point 110 being at the intersection of arcuate line 90 with the front to rear centerline of the kite and the second point 112 being on the centerline of the kite immediately rearwardly of the point of origination of the radiating score lines 102 heretofore described. When the bellyband 108 is secured under tension as described the body of the kite is caused to distort assuming a fold along the rearward arcuate line 92 and being caused to flex along the radiating lines 102 whereby a depression is formed arcuately across the face of the kite the mean vale of which is defined by the line 90 and the mean height of which is defined by the line 92, the kite body area between said lines assuming a pitched angle front to rear of thekite and creating with the rearward body portion of the kite an airfoil pocket. The formation of the arcuate depression transversely of the kite will offset the planes of the front and rear sections of the kite to establish an airfoil shape for the entire body surface thereof. The depth of the transverse depression diminishes toward each side corner of the kite.

It is fully contemplated that the size and gauge of the sheet material from which the kite is formed may vary to meet different conditions to anticipate wind velocity and the like without departing from the scope and spirit of my invention which is limited only by the appended claims and the prior art.

I claim:

1. A kite comprising, a substantially square body formed from semirigid sheet material and disposed with two diagonally opposed corners thereof front and rear of the kite, said body being characterized by a fold along the front to rear diagonal dividing the body into identical side wing sections disposed at identical inclines to the horizontal plane of the front to rear fold line of the body, a rolled crease extending transversely of the body generally between the opposed side corner intersections thereof, said rolled crease following a uniform arc the convex edge of which is disposed forwardly of the body and defining with the front to rear fold two identical leading surfaces at like inclinations to the horizontal plane of the front to rear fold line and at similar offset inclinations from the inclined planes of the adjacent side wing sections rearwardly thereof, a stiffened paperboard frame superimposed on and secured to said kite body, said frame being substantially T shaped and disposed with the stem and head sections thereof overlying portions of the front to rear fold line and transverse arcuate crease of the body respectively.

2. A kite construction as defined in claim 1 wherein the stem of said T frame is folded longitudinally on the centerline thereof in coincidence with the front to rear body fold, and the head of said T frame is relieved by an arcuate cut line therein lying in registry with the rolled transverse crease in said kite body. a

3. A kite comprising, a substantially square body formed from semirigid sheet material and disposed with two diagonally opposed corners thereof front and rear of the kite, said body being characterized by a fold along the front to rear diagonal dividing the body into identical side wing sections disposed at identical inclines to the horizontal plane of the front to rear fold line of the body, a rolled crease extending transversely of the body generally between the opposed side corner intersections thereof, said rolled crease following a uniform arc the convex edge of which is disposed forwardly of the body and defining with the front to rear fold two identical leading surfaces at like inclinations to the horizontal plane of the front to rear fold line and at similar offset inclinations from the inclined planes of the adjacent side wing sections rearwardly thereof, a tail component secured to the rear of said body, and said tail component being formed of a stiffened paperboard sheet folded longitudinally thereof and having substantially horizontal stabilizing fins defined therein by transverse cut lines from opposed side edges thereof.

4. A kite construction as defined in claim 2 wherein said T frame is provided with an integrally formed tai section projecting rearwardly from the body and characterized by substantially horizontally projecting stabilizer fins cut therefrom.

5. A kite comprising, a substantially square body formed from semirigid sheet material and disposed with two diagonally opposed corners thereof front and rear of the kite, said body being characterized by a fold along the front to rear diagonal dividing the body into identical side wing sections disposed at identical inclines to the horizontal plane of the front to rear fold line of the body, a rolled crease extending transversely of the body generally between the opposed side corner intersections thereof, said rolled crease following a uniform arc the convex edge of which is disposed forwardly of the body and defining with the front to rear fold two identical leading surfaces at like inclinations to the horizontal plane of the front to rear fold line and at similar offset inclinations from the inclined planes of the adjacent side wing sections rearwardly thereof, and a stiffened paperboard tail component extending rearwardly from the body aligned with and having the front to rear fold of said body continued therethrough.

6. A kite comprising, a substantially square body formed from semirigid sheet material and disposed with two diagonally opposed corners thereof front and rear of the kite, said body being characterized by a fold along the front to rear diagonal dividing the body into identical side wing sections disposed at identical inclines to the horizontal plane of the front to rear fold line of the body,

a rolled crease extending transversely of the body generally between the opposed side corner intersections thereof, said rolled crease following a uniform arc the convex edge of which is disposed forwardly of the body and defining with the front to rear fold two identical leading surfaces at like inclinations to the horizontal plane of the front to rear fold line and at similar offset inclinations from the inclined planes of the adjacent side wing sections rearwardly thereof, a stiffened paperboard tail component extending rearwardly from the body aligned with and having the front to rear fold of said body continued therethrough, said tail component being Wider at the rearwardmost end than it is wide adjacent the body of said kite, and a slotted opening formed forwardly for a spaced distance from the trailing edge of said tail component on the front to rear centerline thereof.

7. A kite comprising, a substantially square body formed from a semirigid sheet material and disposed with two diagonally opposed corners thereof front and rear of the kite, said body being characterized by a fold along the front to rear diagonal dividing the body into identical side wing sections, a depressed channel formed arcuately transverse of the kite body with the opposed ends terminating adjacent the side corners thereof, said arcuate depression being defined by a pair of arcuately formed score lines disposed front and rear of said kite body along which the surface of the kite is oifset, each arcuate line being composed generally of a series of interconnected oppositely extending arcs, the convex edge of said arcuately curved depression disposed forwardly of the kite body being offset below the normal plane of the kite, and the rearwardly disposed convex edge defining the arcuate depression being offset above the normal plane of the kite body.

8. A kite as defined in claim 7 wherein said kite body is held in offset plane condition along said score lines by a bellyband secured under tension between front and rear spaced points on said longitudinal fold on each side of said arcuate depression.

9. A kite comprising, a body formed from a semirigid sheet material and characterized by a front nose and a tail end, a fold along a front to rear line from the nose to the tail dividing the body into identical side wing sections, a depressed channel formed arcuately, transverse of the kite body with the opposed ends terminating adjacent the laterally remote edges of the side wing sections thereof, said arcuate depression being defined by a pair of, arcuately formed score lines disposed front and rear, of,

said kite body along which the surface of the kite is offset, each arcuate line being composed generally of a series of interconnected oppositely extending arcs, the convex edge of said arcuately curved depression disposed forwardly of the kite body being offset below the normal plane of the kite, and the rearwardly disposed convex edge defining the arcuate depression being offset above the normal plane of the kite body.

References Cited by the Examiner V UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,631,798 3/1953 Guercio 244153 FERGUS S. MIDDLETON, Primary Examiner. 

9. A KITE COMPRISING, A BODY FORMED FROM A SEMIRIGID SHEET MATERIAL AND CHARACTERIZED BY A FRONT NOSE AND A TAIL END, A FOLD ALONG A FRONT TO REAR LINE FROM THE NOSE TO THE TAIL DIVIDING THE BODY INTO IDENTICAL SIDE WING SECTIONS, A DEPRESSED CHANNEL FORMED ARCUATELY TRANSVERSE OF THE KITE BODY WITH THE OPPOSED ENDS TERMINATING ADJACENT THE LATERALLY REMOTE EDGES OF THE SIDE WING SECTIONS THEREOF, SAID ARCUATE DEPRESSION BEING DEFINED BY A PAIR OF ARCUATELY FORMED SCORE LINES DISPOSED FRONT AND REAR OF SAID KITE BODY ALONG WHICH THE SURFACE OF THE KITE IS OFFSET, EACH ARCUATE LINE BEING COMPOSED GENERALLY OF A SERIES OF INTERCONNECTED OPPOSITELY EXTENDING ARCS, THE CONVEX EDGE OF SAID ARCUATELY CURVED DEPRESSION DISPOSED FORWARDLY OF THE KITE BODY BEING OFFSET BELOW THE NORMAL PLANE OF THE KITE, AND THE REARWARDLY DISPOSED CONVEX EDGE DEFINING THE ARCUATE DEPRESSION BEING OFFSET ABOVE THE NORMAL PLANE OF THE KITE BODY. 